Baozi that Sparkles on a Fresh Morning | 一笼香喷喷、热腾腾的包子，打开元气满满的一天

What would you like for breakfast?

早餐吃什么?

When you come to China, breakfast is no longer sandwiches, pancakes, toast, and coffee, but baozi that sparkles on a fresh morning!

早餐吃什么？三明治？煎饼？吐司？咖啡？No! 来到中国，你得入乡随俗，早上来一笼香喷喷、热腾腾的包子，才是打开元气满满一天的正确方式！🥢

Baozi, a steamed stuffed bun, is usually served as a cheap, traditional Chinese breakfast. It is made of flour stuffed with pork or vegetables, then steamed or fried until crispy on the bottom. According to folktales, baozi was invented by the famous Chinese military strategist Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period (3rd century AD).

包子，是一种古老的传统面食，主要制作材料有面粉和馅，相传由三国时期蜀汉诸葛亮发明（距今1800多年）。

01

 History 包子的前世今生

Originally this delight was called "mantou". During the Three Kingdoms period when Zhuge Liang led his troops to attack the "Nanman" (southern provinces), he subdued Meng Huo by convincing him that he had gone to Lushui then surprising him where he least expected it. Suddenly, they encountered a strong wind and sounds like ghosts and wolves crying, disabling the army from crossing the river. 

包子的前世其实是馒头。相传三国时期，蜀国诸葛亮率兵攻打南蛮，七擒七纵收服孟获后，行到泸水时，突然狂风大作，鬼哭狼嚎，军队无法渡江。

At this time, Zhuge Liang called Meng Huo, and learned that it was because the soldiers killed in the war could not return to their hometown to reunite with their families, and created such fierce winds and waves on the river in order to prevent all the soldiers from returning. The prerequisite for the army to cross the river was to cut off the heads of 49 "Nanman" soldiers as sacrifices.

此时诸葛亮召来孟获问明原因，原来，两军交战，阵亡将士无法返回故里与家人团聚，故在此江上兴风作浪，阻挠众将士回程。大军若要渡江，必须用49颗蛮军的人头祭江，方可风平浪静。

Zhuge Liang thought to himself: When the two armies confront each other, casualties will be inevitable. Why kill 49 more people? So he thought of another way. He let the cook cut beef and mutton into meat paste, mix it into meat stuffing, wrap it with flour, make it into the shape of a human head, and then use it to sacrifice to the river. His offering was accepted, and the army was able to cross the river smoothly.

诸葛亮心想：两军交战死伤难免，岂能再杀49条人命？于是遂生一计，命厨子将牛羊肉斩成肉酱拌成肉馅，在外面包上面粉，做成人头模样，祭祀后大军顺利渡。

Thus "Mantou" (in Chinese "tou" means "head") was invented, and later called Baozi (steamed stuffed buns). The word Baozi was officially born in the Song Dynasty, when there were already different tastes of meat stuffed buns and vegetarian stuffed buns.

这种祭品被称作“蛮首”，也叫作蛮头，后来称为“馒头”，也就是现在的“包子”。”包子“一词正式诞生于宋朝，这时已经有了两种不同的口味，就是“肉馅的”和“素馅的”，这便是最早的肉包子和菜包子了。

Later, baozi spread to all parts of the country and was transformed into different special flavours, such as Guangdong barbecued pork buns, Tianjin Goubuli, Shanghai steamed buns, Kaifeng soup buns, Wuhan fried buns, Jingjiang crab roe buns, and Chongqing Jiuyuan buns, all of which have their own unshakable positions as part of their city's culture.

发展到后来各地又出现了自己的门派，广东叉烧包、天津狗不理、上海小笼包、开封灌汤包、武汉生煎包、靖江蟹黄包、重庆九园包……各有各的江湖地位。

So which shop in Chongqing sells the most delicious steamed stuffed buns? We would like to recommend an excellent baozi restaurant, which is one of the best in Chongqing and definitely worth a visit!

那么你肯定想问，在重庆哪里有好吃的包子？我们给你找到了一家，不敢说是最好吃，但绝对不会让你失望！

02

 Tasty Baozi 好吃的包子

We found this steamed stuffed bun shop after checking out multiple online reviews. It is located in an old residential community and has been open for more than 20 years. Starting at 6am it is packed with customers. 

跟着某点评网的好评，我们找到了这家听说还不错的包子店，可不是一时网红的那种，在渝中老城的一条充满着人间烟火气的街上，这家包子店已开了有二十几年。早上6时开始，店里就陆续有客人来就餐。

"Hello, is my order ready?" "I'd like to have a bowl of soya-bean milk." Until 10 o'clock in the morning, diners were still coming to the store, to either eat in or take their breakfast to go.

“老板，我的酱肉包子好了吗？”，“老板，来一碗豆浆。”一直到早上10点钟，都还是有食客来到店里，坐下吃或者打包带走。

What is sold here is fresh steamed stuffed meat buns and steamed stuffed sauce meat buns, all of which are wrapped and steamed immediately. You can see a man at the gate of the steamed stuffed bun shop skillfully wrapping baozi on a non-stop basis. The price is very cheap, one for 1.5 yuan, while Mantou only 1 yuan. Be quick though, as the freshly steamed buns were quickly "robbed" by diners.

这里的包子有鲜肉、酱肉，都是每天现包现蒸。在包子店的门口，你可以看到一位嬢嬢在马不停蹄的包着包子。馅里加了香葱，娴熟的包着包子，边包边上笼蒸。包子的价格很便宜，1.5元一个，馒头甚至降到1元，刚出笼的包子很快就被食客们“一抢而空”！

The sauce meat steamed stuffed buns though are what really shine here. They are perfectly stuffed with plenty of filling and a strong sauce flavor. Especially the "embellished" chopped green onion makes its original taste more attractive, and is even called "the most authentic steamed stuffed sauce meat bun in Chongqing" by some customers.

酱肉包子当然是这里的招牌，不得不说，里面的馅料非常不错，真材实料、酱香浓郁，尤其是那“点缀”的葱花给原本的味道提升了一个档次，甚至有顾客称其为“全重庆最地道的酱肉包”。

Romain from Belgium said that this is a little different from the steamed stuffed buns in his hometown. In Chinatown, Belgium, the steamed stuffed buns are kept in the refrigerator and frozen. And its meat filling is not very fresh and dry, which is totally different.

我们来自比利时的帅哥说到，这跟他家乡的包子有点不一样，在比利时的唐人街，那里的包子是冷冻的，是从冰箱里面拿出来的，里面的肉馅不怎么新鲜，比较干，和这个是鲜明的对比。

The baozi here are homemade, fermented with old dough used as yeast overnight. The owner was making dough in person when we went into the back of the store. We asked the boss how long the store at the intersection of the two roads had been open, "25 years, the same age as my children", he answered.

原来地道之处，是在于包子是纯手工老面制作，也就是用隔夜的老面来发酵的。于是我们走进了店铺的后台，看老板亲自和面，当问到这家店开了多久时，老板说到：两路口这家店已经开了25年了，娃娃有多大，就开了多少年。

Steamed stuffed buns are delicious only when they are hot, and are especially good with soya-bean milk for a really excellent breakfast. With a little free kimchi, it feels like the whole morning is perfect.

包子要趁热吃才是好吃！这里要额外介绍一下，酱肉包子和豆浆真的是绝佳的早餐选择，再来一点免费的泡菜，感觉整个早上都是圆满了！

03

 Recommendation 包子店推荐

There are also many other shops with delicious baozi in Chongqing. Let us know which is your favorite!

重庆其他的称得上好吃的包子店也大有人在，来看看我们的推荐，是不是也是你的白月光。

Ye Steamed Stuffed Bun 夜包子

It's name come from the fact that they only open at 11 o'clock at night, meeting the needs of countless lonely night owls.There are only two umbrellas on the side of the road and a stall. When you come here at 11 o'clock, you will be surrounded by people under the umbrellas. Generally, the stalls are closed when the baozi are sold out, usually around 2 am.

夜包子，因为昼伏夜出只在晚上11点摆出来而得名，不知道慰藉了多少夜猫子寂寞的胃。一个摊儿就两把伞撑在路边，11点去基本上伞下就围满人了。一般卖完就收摊，晚上2点左右就吃不到了。

📍Near Helong Statue in Xuetianwan Stadium, Lianglukou

两路口学田湾体育场贺龙雕像附近

Linglong Steamed Stuffed Bun

玲珑小包

Apart from being clean, meaty, and tasty, the most important thing is that pine needles are used in the steamers, which is really rare here. Using pine needles means that the baozi have a special aroma, which only those who have partaken can truly understand.

玲珑小包除了干净、肉好、味道多以外，最重要的是——蒸包子打底用的是松针！主城真是好少见了！用松针蒸出来的包子，会有种特别的香气，只有吃过的人才懂！

📍Opposite to Nanping Wanda Harbin Bank

南坪万达哈尔滨银行的对面

Jiuding Steamed Stuffed Bun

酒鼎包子

Jiuding steamed buns are definitely one of delicious baozi in Yuzhong district. It is located in a very popular place and can be easily found. The facade is very small and there are no seats. People who come buy and head on their way. You must remember that this one only sells in the afternoon. The dough of the baozi is soft with some tenacity. The sauce meat is very simple, with a lean and light taste.

渝中母城好吃的包子，酒鼎包子绝对算一家。位置很当道很好找，门面很小但没有座位，来的人基本是买了就走。记住：这家只卖下午！包子面皮松软中带着韧劲。酱肉的做法很朴实，肥肉比瘦肉多一些，但是却不腻人。

📍The first intersection of Guanyinyan Station to Jie Fangbei/next to No.20 Yanghe,Emperor Garden

观音岩车站往解放碑方向走第一个路口/洋河20号大帝花园旁

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Any steamed stuffed bun shops have in mind? You're welcome to share with us.

你有什么好吃的包子店推荐吗，欢迎留言分享！

Edited by Coco

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